English+II+CP+-+Multi-Genre+Project

=Multi-Genre Research Project=

[ Requirements ]
For a more detailed description of the assignment, see the handout: [|multi-genre project assignment.pdf]
 * Minimum of **3 sources** and **30 notecards** (40 notecards max.)
 * Minimum of **7 different genres**
 * Minimum of **1200 words** in length
 * **Table of contents**
 * **Thesis sentence**
 * **Works Cited page**

[ Important Notes ]

 * The finished project is due on **Friday, May 13, 2011.** Late projects will incur a late penalty of **ten percent per day.** Students should note that this is more than the one letter grade per day penalty used during the writing portfolio project.
 * The multigenre project counts as your **final exam** for English II; this means it will be **25% of your course grade.**
 * **No incomplete projects will be accepted.** Projects must meet the above requirements before being handed in for a grade; incomplete projects will be returned to the student and will incur late penalties.

[ Suggested Timeline ]
The timeline below shows what parts of the project //should// be done at the end of each week until the project is due. Bear in mind that this timeline is a guide only; students are responsible for keeping up with the schedule or setting their own, and Mr. Smith will not conduct status checks in class. Students should also be aware in-class work time alone is not sufficient to successfully complete the multi-genre project on time; additional time needs to be spent outside of class.
 * April 11, 2011 (week 1)
 * Topic selected
 * Guiding research questions written
 * Research started
 * Two (2) reliable online sources located
 * April 18, 2011 (week 2)
 * Source information for online sources completed
 * Note cards for online sources completed (approx. 20 cards)
 * April 25, 2011 (week 3)
 * One (1) reliable print source found
 * Thesis sentence written and approved
 * Seven (7) Genres selected
 * Prewriting and drafts complete for three (3) pieces
 * May 2, 2011 (week 4)
 * Prewriting and drafts complete for remaining four (4) pieces
 * Revising, editing, and conferencing complete for all seven (7) pieces
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">May 9, 2011 (week 5)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All seven (7) pieces approved and published
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All facts highlighted in all seven (7) pieces
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finished project submitted

[ Resources ]

 * Handouts to assist you in evaluating sources for credibility, reliability, bias, etc.:
 * [|evaluation checklist.pdf] -- A formal checklist with space to evaluate two different websites side-by-side.
 * [|evaluation questions to ask.pdf] -- A more conversational version of the checklist; a bit simpler while covering the same main ideas.
 * Sample websites (both reliable and unreliable) on the history of ice cream:
 * @http://www.zingersicecream.com/history.htm
 * @http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/IceCream/IceCreamHistory.htm

[ Topic Ideas ]
Download the topic and genre selection form here: [|multi-genre project topic and genre form.pdf]
 * The Bill of Rights
 * The Constitution (Its origins, its changes, its significance, etc.)
 * The Articles of Confederation
 * Any of the amendments to the constitution (Prohibition and the 13th Amendment seem to be important to students.)
 * Congress
 * The Senate
 * The House of Representatives
 * Executive Powers
 * Impeachment
 * Civil Rights Movement
 * Women's suffrage
 * The office of the Presidency (**NOT** THE LIFE OF A PRESIDENT.)
 * Important supreme court cases (e.g. Brown vs. Board of Education, Bush vs. Gore, Roe vs. Wade)
 * Economic ideologies (e.g. capitalism, communism, socialism)
 * Political parties (e.g. Republicans, Democrats, Green Party)
 * Market economy
 * Electoral College
 * Citizenship
 * Immigration
 * Government agencies and corporations (e.g. FBI, EPA, NOAA, NASA, USPS, Amtrak)
 * Any of the cabinet departments (e.g. Department of Interior -- National Parks.)
 * War Powers Act
 * Recession
 * Gross Domestic Product
 * The Federal Reserve
 * The Supreme Court
 * State and local governments
 * Civil disobedience
 * Japanese internment camps
 * Guantanamo Bay
 * Waterboarding/other torture issues (and the legal re-definition of "torture")
 * Secret prisons
 * USA Patriot Act and its impact on civil liberties

[ Genre Ideas ]
A list of possible genres for use in the project was included along with the assignment handout the day this project was introduced. You can also see an extensive list here for more ideas.